Window with a profiled bead comprising a covering attachment

ABSTRACT

In a window ( 1 ), which is intended in particular to be fitted in a bodywork opening ( 11 ) of a vehicle, which is equipped on at least a main surface, intended to face inwards in the fitted state, with a profiled bead ( 2 ) which comprises, as lateral covering attachment, a lip ( 5 ) projecting beyond the edge of the pane ( 1 ) with a sealing rib ( 7 ) which can be applied against an adjacent wall part ( 13 ) when the window is fitted, there is provided on the lip ( 5 ), according to the invention, parallel to the first sealing rib ( 6 ) which can be applied against the wall part ( 13 ), at least one second sealing rib ( 7 ) which can be applied against the edge ( 21 ) of the window without adhesion contact. 
     In this way, a covering of the lateral space is obtained effecting in practice a closure flush with the main surface of the pane and with the adjacent wall or bodywork surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of windows, especially for motorvehicles, and more particularly concerns windows which are equipped withdecorative and/or functional elements attached to the glass. It moreespecially concerns a window, in particular for fitting in the bodyworkopening of a vehicle, comprising a pane with a profiled bead which isfixed at least on the main surface of the pane facing inwards in thefitted state, and which comprises, as covering attachment, a lip whichprojects beyond the edge of the pane with a sealing rib which can beapplied against an adjacent wall part when the window is fitted.

It is known in general to adhesively bond the windows of vehicles in therespective openings of the bodywork of the vehicle. To do this, thepanes are often provided with a profiled bead which adheres at least ontheir main surface facing inwards in the fitted state. On the profiledbead and/or in proximity thereto, a strip of adhesive is applied on thissame main surface. The pane provided with the strip of adhesive is theninserted into the opening. The latter is framed by a mounting flange, onwhich the strip of adhesive is applied. The windows in the fitted statemust preferably be situated practically flush with the external surfaceof the bodywork. To do this, the mounting flange is set back withrespect to the main surface of the bodywork by means of a peripheralangled ledge. The height of the angled ledge corresponds to thethickness of the window and of the adhesive. In certain designs, theedges of the panes are not covered by the profiled bead. As thedimensions of the pane and the perimeter of the opening cannot beadapted to one another without tolerance, because of the size variationsupon manufacture, a space is left in the form of a groove between theangled ledge or the edge of the opening and the pane.

According to document DE-A1-38 18 930, in order to cover this space, alip is provided which is formed directly on the profiled bead adheringto the pane, preferably by extrusion. In another alternative embodimentin the same document, a supplementary profiled band of a flexibleelastomeric plastic is adhesively bonded, along the peripheral surfaceof the pane, on the main surface facing inwards. This supplementaryprofiled band has a tubular portion which fills the said space when thewindow is in the fitted state.

A profiled shape is also known (DE-A1-43 01 026) which encloses on threesides the external edge and the edge of the pane in one embodiment, thatis to say also on the external main surface, and which additionallycomprises a lip projecting from the pane and serving as a lateral slotcovering.

Thermoplastic materials, preferably thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) orthermoplastic olefins (TPO), have principally been used hitherto asmaterials for such profiles. With these, the lip can be manufactured tobe sufficiently thin as early as at the extrusion stage, so as to beable to flex elastically against the edge of the opening upon fitting ofthe window in the bodywork, without generating excessively high forcesof reaction during fitting. In addition to its sealing function, the lipcentres the window in the opening during insertion and keeps the windowcentred.

Dirt can still accumulate in the space thus covered by the folded-up lipand can only be removed with difficulty from the bottom of the groove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to make available a window with aprofiled bead comprising a covering attachment, so that the covering ofthe space between the edge of the pane and the adjacent wall part isfurther improved.

In this regard, the invention relates to a window which is intended inparticular to be fitted in a bodywork opening of a vehicle, which isequipped at least on a main surface, intended to face inwards in thefitted state, with a profiled bead which comprises, as lateral coveringattachment, a lip projecting beyond the edge of the pane with a sealingrib which can be applied against an adjacent wall part when the windowis fitted, in which there is provided on the lip, parallel to the firstsealing rib which can be applied against the wall part, at least onesecond sealing rib which can be applied against the edge of the windowwithout adhesion contact.

By “edge of the window” we mean either the edge of the pane itself or,if the profiled bead is covering the latter, the corresponding beadportion.

In this way, it is possible to obtain, without having to use separatesealing profiles, a covering of the lateral space effectingadvantageously a closure flush with the main surface of the pane andwith the adjacent wall or bodywork surface. In addition to the technicaladvantages, a visibly closed surface is thereby obtained.

The characteristics of the secondary claims indicate advantageousrefinements of this subject matter.

Manipulation of the pane during fitting is greatly facilitated,according to advantageous refinements, if the profiled bead is formed onthe window in such a way that the second sealing rib is applied orextends already freely against or in proximity to the edge of the windowafter the profiled bead has been fixed on the pane, and/or the lip has,on its longitudinal extension between a base profile of the profiledbead fixed to the pane and the sealing ribs, a point of flexion ofgreatly reduced cross section.

Other characteristics and advantages of the subject matter of theinvention will be evident from the drawings of an illustrativeembodiment and from the following description thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a cross section of the peripheral zone ofa pane with a profiled bead adhering thereto, which comprises a lipprovided with two sealing ribs projecting at its free ends in oppositedirections;

FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically a cross section, in the fitted state, ofthe window illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to FIG. 1, a pane 1 is provided, in a manner known per se,with a profiled bead 2 adhering near its edge on one of its mainsurfaces. This can be placed, in a manner also known per se, directly onthe surface of the pane 1 or, as is illustrated here, on a coating 1′improving adhesion, preferably by extrusion or by another process suchas overmoulding or encapsulation, adhesive bonding of a prefabricatedbead, etc. It is made preferably of a thermoplastic material, preferablyan elastomer or mixture of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) orthermoplastic olefin(s) (TPO).

The pane 1 can be made of glass or of a transparent elastic and can beof monolithic design or, differing from the illustration, with alaminated structure combining at least two sheets of glass and/ortransparent plastic.

The profiled bead 2 essentially comprises a base profile 3 bearing on amain surface of the pane. This profile projects approximately at rightangles from the surface of the pane 1 and forms, at its free end, asupport rib 4. The latter is located, in the fitted position, against amounting flange of a bodywork opening and defines the vertical positionof the pane 1 (FIG. 2).

In the embodiment shown, the profiled bead 2 adheres only on the mainsurface of the pane intended to be directed inwards. As an alternative,it can cover two or three faces of the pane, namely a main surface andat least part of the edge of the pane, or respectively the two mainsurfaces and the edge of the pane by straddling the edge of the latter.

A lip 5 formed in one place projects from the base profile 3 at acertain angle relative to the main extension of the latter, ifappropriate approximately parallel to the main surface of the pane,about half way between the pane 1 and the support rib 4, and extendsbeyond the contour of the pane. At its end situated opposite the baseprofile 3, the lip 5 has an elastically flexible continuation 5′ whichprojects at a certain angle from the lip. Its free end forms a firstsealing rib 6 (external) which extends away from the pane. A secondsealing rib 7 (internal) is also formed on the lip 5 situated oppositethe external sealing rib 6. The two sealing ribs 6 and 7 are connectedto the lip 5 by way of a thickened area or bulge of material 8. Theyextend along the longitudinal extension of the profiled bead 2 parallelto one another. On the side of the profiled bead 2 oriented away fromthe lip 5, the two sealing ribs 6, 7 are connected to one another via asurface 9 which is flat or, as is illustrated here, slightly curved,preferably towards the interior of the vehicle.

Overall, the bulge of material 8 presents, in conjunction with thesealing ribs 6 and 7 and the surface 9, a cross section which is almosttriangular, if appropriate asymmetrical, one point of which joins thelip 5 and the other two points of which are formed by the sealing ribs 6and 7.

The lip 5, in this configuration, no longer has a direct sealing orcovering function, even though it is located in the space to be covered.Instead, it serves as an elastically deformable support wing for thecontinuation 5′, as well as the sealing ribs 6 and 7. Its cross sectioncan therefore remain very thin (for example 0.8 mm). In the embodimentillustrated here, it has in fact, at the centre of its longitudinalextension between the base profile 3 and the bulge of material 8, aparticularly small or narrow cross section. The latter constitutes apoint of flexion 10 in the manner of a flat hinge.

Between the edge 21 of the window, that is to say the edge of the pane 1itself, or where appropriate the portion of the profiled bead 2 coveringthe edge of the pane, and the internal sealing rib 7, there must be noadhesion contact. In order to guarantee this, upon extrusion of theprofiled bead a space is first retained between the internal sealing rib7 (oriented towards the pane) and the edge of the pane. This space canthen be reduced by internal prestressing, under the effect of theintrinsic weight immediately after the extrusion of the profiled bead,or by a separate process of shaping. The thermoplastic profiled beadscan, in a known manner, also be post-formed plastically by heating. Aslight free elastic bearing of the internal sealing rib 7 against theedge 21 of the pane can be advantageous upon fitting because the rib isthereby protected against folding during the insertion of the pane andthe unstressed lip does not protrude too far past the edge of the pane.

FIG. 2 better illustrates the technical and visual benefit of thisembodiment of the profiled bead. This figure shows, in addition to thewindow I and the profiled bead 2, also the edge of an opening 11 of abodywork (not shown in further detail). A mounting flange 12 enclosesthe opening. It is slightly set back in relation to the external surfaceof the bodywork 14 connected to it, by means of a ledge 13 which formsthe wall part adjacent to the window 1. As has already been mentioned,the window 1 is applied on the mounting flange by means of the supportrib 4 of the base profile 3. In this mounted state, the external mainsurface of the pane is practically flush with the external surface ofthe bodywork.

The pane 1 is connected by adhesion to the mounting flange 12 in a knownmanner, by means of a strip of adhesive 1″ applied alongside andparallel to the profiled bead 2 on the opaque coating 1′, and shown hereonly by a broken line. The support rib 4 in this case serves as a spacereven for a defined thickness of the bead of adhesive.

At the latest during this fitting operation, the lip 5 is stronglycurved, the function of the point of flexion 10 being clearlydemonstrated here. The space 15 in the form of a groove in which the lipis fitted can be clearly seen. The external sealing rib 6 bears againstthe ledge 13, the internal scaling rib 7 bears against the edge 21 ofthe pane 1, on each edge as near as possible to the external main face.The elastic deformation of the continuation 5′ ensures the necessarypressure force of the two sealing ribs 6 and 7. Together with the face9, these form a covering attachment for the space 15, which bears almostflush with the external surface of the bodywork, and this without havingto use a supplementary sealing profile. Compared to the previous lipdesigns, a particularly reduced residual space is obtained here betweenthe pane and the opening, so that it is possible to avoid not only dirt,but also aerodynamic noise.

However, the design of the lip and of the sealing ribs requires thatvery particular consideration be given to the conditions at the edges,so as to be able to obtain a functional mounting and to exclude, duringthe subsequent use of the vehicle, practically all damage and/or loss offunctionality.

With fitting the window 1 in the opening 11 against the mounting flange12, initially the continuation 5′ or the external sealing rib 6 passesfirst against the ledge 13, or against the edge in the transition fromthe external surface of the bodywork 14 to the ledge 13. If onecontinues to push the pane 1—which thus compresses the strip of adhesive1″ applied beforehand—the contact between the sealing rib 6 and theledge 13 causes the lip 5 to flex still further. The internal sealingrib 7 then arrives in contact with the edge 21 of the pane 1.

The continuation 5′ of the lip 5 is also designed in a lip shape with asmall cross section. As a continuation of the lip 5, it must inparticular be designed with a length and an elasticity which aresufficient to allow it to reliably absorb all the admissible dimensionalvariations in the reciprocal sizes of the pane and of the opening and toallow the support rib 6 to bear reliably against the adjacent wall part,such as the ledge 13.

By contrast, the internal sealing rib 7 is the point of the compactbulge of material 8, which is itself essentially more rigid than the lip5 and its continuation 5′. By adding sufficient material in thetransitions between the lip 5 and the sealing ribs, it is possible toguarantee that none of the sealing ribs 6, 7 folds back inwards duringfitting, as a result of friction between the bodywork or the pane andthe material of the profiled bead.

It is also preferable to exclude the possibility of the sealing ribs 6,7 projecting past the external surface of the bodywork in the fittedstate, or bearing in some way on the external face of the pane. This isrelatively easy to achieve by correctly dimensioning the length andcross section of the lip. The shape and the arrangement of the point offlexion 10 between two relatively thick cross sections also prevents thelip 5 from being overstretched during fitting of the window.

Finally, supplementary measures are taken to ensure that the sealingribs 6, 7 cannot be pushed back inadvertently (for example when washingthe vehicle) from the outside into the space 15. To do so, asupplementary support lip or another suitable profiled component can beformed on the bulge of material 8 or on the lip 5. Such components canbe located, in the fitted position, in the covered space of space 15 andbear on the bottom of the space 15, for example in the groove betweenthe ledge 13 and the mounting flange 12.

However, they must not affect the mobility of the lip 5 or of thecontinuation 5′.

The detailed description which has just been given concerns moreparticularly a window equipped, by extrusion, with a profiled beadadhering to a main surface.

The same teachings apply to profiles obtained by other techniques(encapsulation or adhesive bonding) and/or covering more than one faceof the pane.

What is claimed is:
 1. A window for fitting into a bodywork opening of avehicle, said bodywork opening of the vehicle having a mounting flange(12), and a ledge (13), said window comprising a pane (1) having a mainsurface (16) which faces inward towards the external surface of thebodywork (14) when the window is fitted in the bodywork opening and anedge (21) and a profiled bead (2) which is fixed at least on a mainsurface of the pane, said profiled bead (2) comprising a base profile(3) projecting at approximately a right angle from the main surface ofthe pane having a first end that contacts the surface of the main paneand a support rib (4) that contacts the mounting flange (12) when thewindow is fitted in the bodywork opening of the vehicle, and a lip (5)projecting from the base profile (3) approximately parallel to the mainsurface of the pane and about halfway between the main surface of thepane (1) and the support rib (4), wherein the lip 5 comprises a flexiblecontinuation (5′) ending in a first sealing rib (6) and a second sealingrib (7) wherein the first and second sealing ribs are connected by abulge of material 8, wherein the support rib (4) contacts the mountingflange (12), the first sealing rib (6) contacts the ledge (13), and thesecond sealing rib (7) contacts the edge (21) when the window is fittedin the bodywork opening of the vehicle.
 2. The window of claim 1,wherein the profiled bead (2) is formed in such a way that the secondsealing rib (7) is applied loosely against the edge of the window (21)after the profiled bead (2) has been fixed on the pane (3) and the firstsealing rib (6) is oriented in the opposite direction to the edge. 3.The window of claim 1, wherein the lip (5) has a point of flexion (10)of greatly reduced cross section between the base profile (3) and thefirst and second sealing fibs (6, 7) of the profiled bead fixed.
 4. Thewindow of claim 1, wherein the bulge of material (8) has an essentiallytriangular cross section.
 5. The window of claim 1, wherein the firstand second sealing ribs (6, 7) are connected to one another on the sideoriented away from the lip (5), via a flat or only slightly curved face(9).
 6. The window of claim 1 further comprising a profiled componentformed on the bulge of material (8) or on the lip (5), wherein the liphas an elastic flexion capacity and the profiled component bears on thebottom of the gap (15) between the groove between the ledge (13) and themounting flange (12).